Capello took the 22-year-old Liverpool centre-forward aside at the England camp to discuss the reputation he has quickly acquired as a hard-drinking party animal and the Italian was reluctant to shower praise on the striker, even after his goalscoring display.

'Carroll scored a goal but needs more time to improve,' said the England manager. 'He can improve a lot. He's a really important player and it's important for the striker to score a goal.

'I remember him before he suffered injury problems. He ran around a lot and would always fight. With the bigger players, it's impossible to improve really quickly, like Aaron Lennon and Jack Wilshere.'

Asked if Carroll would be allowed to celebrate his first England goal with a beer, Capello replied: 'This is a question for Kenny Dalglish.'

England were without many of their most experienced players but it was an entertaining game, played in a terrific atmosphere, thanks mainly to more than 21,000 Ghana fans inside Wembley.

Capello said: 'It was a fantastic game, not a friendly. Every tackle was a fight. It was exciting and fast. The players played very well and the new players, also played well. It was interesting for me to know the value of these players, to play here at Wembley in a senior shirt. They played without fear and with confidence.'

West Ham's Scott Parker, nursing a slight calf injury which prompted a plea from his club to the FA not to risk him last night, was an unused substitute but Arsenal teenager Jack Wilshere played the first 69 minutes.

Matt Jarvis of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United's Daniel Welbeck, on loan for the season at Sunderland, won their first England caps. Welbeck was jeered by the visiting fans because he is also eligible to play for Ghana.

Capello added: 'Welbeck will be another really important player for England and a very important player for Manchester United next season.'

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